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Technology and the self

Essays and videos offering insights into the self, relationships, cognition and neuroscience

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A man with a bird tattoo outlined over an older tattoo of SS insignia on his shaved head, in a tattoo parlour with orange walls.

videoTechnology and the self

Inside a tattoo parlour where hateful images are covered for free

11 minutes

A man and a woman on a path next to a grassy area, both holding phones; the man is shown from behind and appears to be taking a selfie while a large stag walks behind him.

essayTechnology and the self

Record everything!

Our memories are precious to us and constitute our sense of self. Why not enhance them by recording all of your life?

Yannic Kappes

Photo of a middle-aged man climbing a red ladder on a tall brick industrial chimney with a cityscape in the background.

videoWork

Like a cheery Sisyphus, Fred dismantles an industrial chimney one brick at a time

12 minutes

A person in a hi-vis vest sitting outdoors at a table with a drink, looking into the distance.

essayTechnology and the self

The unseen

Our crisis of work and technology is one in which too many people feel that nobody sees them as a fellow human being

Allison J Pugh

Photo of three people stacking hay bales under a cloudy sky with a pink sunset.

videoSocial psychology

What happened when a crypto scam swept over a sleepy town in the Caucasus

18 minutes

Black-and-white photo of a person looking at vintage Honeywell 200 computer tape drives labelled A and B.

videoHistory of technology

Curious singles and tech sceptics – what ‘computer dating’ looked like in 1966

6 minutes

A young girl with curly hair applies makeup in front of a ring-lit mirror, her reflection visible.

videoTechnology and the self

The commodified childhood – scenes from two sisters’ lives in the creator economy

14 minutes

A woman on a sofa injecting her abdomen surrounded by stuffed toys on a shelf.

videoTechnology and the self

Why single Chinese women are freezing their eggs in California

24 minutes

Illustration of a child holding a shell to their ear with a bird singing on a branch amidst abstract greenery and flowers.

essayBioethics

The cochlear question

As the hearing parent of a deaf baby, I’m confronted with an agonising decision: should I give her an implant to help her hear?

Abi Stephenson

A man floating in the sea beneath a dramatic, stormy sky with large, dark clouds.

essayTechnology and the self

We need raw awe

In this tech-vexed age, our life on screens prevents us from experiencing the mysteries and transformative wonder of life

Kirk Schneider

A man views a holographic projection of a child in shorts running in a forest setting; office equipment surrounds him.

videoTechnology and the self

A haunting scene from ‘Minority Report’ inspires a voyage into time and memory

7 minutes

Photo of a silver inflatable balloon floating in the sky over a blurred brownish background, resembling a flying saucer.

videoInformation and communication

Coverage of the ‘balloon boy’ hoax forms a withering indictment of for-profit news

17 minutes

Photo of a person wearing large sunglasses with outdoor scenery reflected, resting their fingers on their chin in a thoughtful pose.

essayEthics

Main character syndrome

Why romanticising your own life is philosophically dubious, setting up toxic narratives and an inability to truly love

Anna Gotlib

Residential street with terraced houses and power plant cooling towers in the background, one of which has a mural depicting a sun and mountains.

videoFood and drink

Local tensions simmer amid a potato salad contest at the Czech-Polish border

14 minutes

A person with a prosthetic leg stands in a room filled with plastic-wrapped prosthetics and limbs, showcasing orthopaedic supplies.

videoTechnology and the self

A filmmaker finds a tactile beauty in the creation of her prosthetic leg

11 minutes

Old photograph of a girl sleeping in a chair, a ghostly boy kneeling before her, and a ghostly girl standing by a wall with a religious tapestry.

videoTechnology and the self

How the magic of photography brought Victorian England closer to the spirit realm

16 minutes

A young woman and a man, both dressed formally, sit at a table with an electronic device in front of them. The woman is engaging with the device, which has several buttons and dials, while the man observes attentively. The setting appears to be an office or classroom. The image is in black and white.

essayTechnology and the self

Tomorrow people

For the entire 20th century, it had felt like telepathy was just around the corner. Why is that especially true now?

Roger Luckhurst

A person and a dog look out from a window of a blue house during snowfall. The house has an external staircase covered with snow on the left, and a snow-covered porch on the right. The scene is set on a snowy day, with visible accumulation on the ground and surfaces.

videoTechnology and the self

In the town once named Asbestos, locals ponder the voids industry left in its wake

16 minutes

Illustration of a person sitting in a room with a bed and various objects. The background is pink, and the objects include a lamp, books, clock, plants, lava lamp, slippers, and a small ball. The person appears to be drawn in a simple, sketch-like style.

videoSex and sexuality

After a sextortion scam, Eugene conducts an unblushing survey of masturbation

14 minutes

Close-up of a woman with blonde hair and a nose ring. She has a serious expression. The background is a foggy landscape with soft pink and grey tones.

videoTechnology and the self

A deepfake porn victim confronts the pain of having her likeness stolen and vandalised

19 minutes

Illustration of a person and a cat doing yoga in front of a fireplace, with floating planets and stars around them, a vase, a calendar, and a smartphone nearby.

essayConsciousness and altered states

A reader’s guide to microdosing

How to use small doses of psychedelics to lift your mood, enhance your focus, and fire your creativity

Tunde Aideyan

A man wearing a hat and red shirt is chopping a log with an axe, with wood chips flying around, next to a tent under a blue sky with clouds.

videoWork

Does capitalism make ‘non-playable characters’ of us all? An uncanny exploration

21 minutes

A photo collage with stone buildings, a wooden door, a metal gate, and residential structures with plants in the background.

videoTechnology and the self

A ‘virtual outing’ on Google Maps reveals a treasured image from Diego’s past

6 minutes

A woman is sitting at a table holding a knife at a chopping board, but her head is switch with the green onion she is cutting. Yellow blinds and a lamp are in the background.

videoTechnology and the self

An artist swaps her head with everyday objects in a musing on consumerism

4 minutes